Written by: Tamara Fernandez, Therapist at Autism in Mind Children’s Charity
Christopher Reeves says, “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable”. AIM’s vision allows dreams to become inevitable; reflected in our children. Whether it be the dreams of our parents, our staff, or the community; we at AIM strive to embrace dreams to make them a reality. Our staff share a common goal, to improve the lives of our families and children. This goal becomes a will; allowing our dreams to become inevitable.
A true story that correctly reflects Christopher Reeves’ saying is about a young child with very little interest in social interaction, no language, and an inability to initiate requests to use the washroom. When all seemed dark, we saw the light at the end of the tunnel. We all believed, willed and embraced the families’ dreams as our own.
I would always wonder, “what might the child sound like if we could hear their voice?”, “what would the family feel when their child asked them to use the washroom?”, “what would we all feel like if the child wanted to engage socially?”
And then one day it all happened. When she was picked up after a long day’s therapy, we said to her, say “ba”, and she looked at us and said “ba”. The excitement of the family and more so myself, still resonates with me today. I also remember the day she asked me to use the washroom; I jumped for joy. At this very moment, I realized that when our will took over, our dream could be achieved. I went home and dreamt about this moment; feeling ecstatic. Till today, this young child loves socially engaging with our staff, independently asks to use the washroom and now sings songs with us.
From saying nothing, to hearing her voice. From changing diapers, to responding to her request to use the washroom. From her engagement with a limited range of toys to her eagerness to engage with our staff. These are the moments I will cherish for the rest of my life.
THIS is what we do at AIM. We embrace the vision of our families, we make it our own, and we try our best to make their dreams inevitable.
TAMARA FERNANDEZ is a Lead Instructor Therapist at Autism in Mind Children’s Charity. Her dedication inspires us to take dreams from impossible to inevitable.
